Investigators are trying today to determine causes for two Battle Creek house fires.

The Battle Creek Fire Department, Battle Creek Police Department and the Michigan State Police are expected to return after sunrise to the scene of an early Thursday morning fire at a house at 438 W. Jackson St.

Battle Creek firefighters were called at 2:13 a.m. and found heavy fire in the back of the house on the northwest section of the two-story home.

No one was at home at the time and investigators said this morning it appears the residents were moving out.

Officers were preparing a search warrant and police said a Michigan State Police dog trained to search for accelerants is expected to assist them.

Battle Creek firefighters said they also are working to determine the cause of a fire at 766 Ingram St. that was reported at 5:23 p.m. Wednesday.

No one was in that home at the time of the fire, which firefighters said began in the basement. Damage was estimated at $4,000 to the single-story home.

Firefighters said they had a difficult time fighting the fire because of a large amount of contents inside. The home was not equipped with smoke detectors, officials said.